1941: Following a Ministry of Home Security circular on the carrying of gas masks, a Mrs Mellows organised four lectures aimed principally at housewives of active servicemen, on how to handle a gas situation. The second talk was held on this day. Each lecture covered: latest information about gas attacks; first aid for gas casualties; how to protect yourself and dealing with incendiary bombs and fires. All lectures were very well attended. (Gray, David, Peterborough at War 1939-1945, David Gray, 2011)
Taken from The Peterborough Book of Days by Brian Jones, The History Press, 2014.
1906: It was on this day that a coroner's inquest took place in the Blue Bell Inn in Werrington. The inquest was regarding the death of an unknown woman aged about 25, who had been discovered drowned in a sheep dip. She had been found by 11-year-old William Lenton as he made his way to school. She was recorded as wearing a black dress with an underskirt and a hand-marked petticoat. She also had a white straw hat and scarf, black stockings and new shoes. They found £1 and some keys in her purse. Also recovered were two cheap brooches and a necklace of pearl beads. Dr Harold Clapham, the house surgeon at the infirmary, reported that the death was caused by suffocation by drowning. Photographs were taken of the body and distributed to police and the newspapers. A few days later, she was identified as being the 21-year-old daughter of Frederick Arnold, a plate-layer living in Lakenheath, who came to Peterborough to confirm identification. He stated that he had received a letter from his daughter stating that she had left her employ in Nottingham and had sent her boxes on. She would not be returning home herself. (Family History Magazine)
Taken from The Peterborough Book of Days by Brian Jones, The History Press, 2014.